Garbage grinder



March 4, 1952 c. w. vAN RANST GARBAGE GR INDF,

3 Sheaigs-Sheet l Filed March 1G, 1947 March 4, 19524 c. w. VAN RANs-r 2,588,182

GARBAGE GRINDER March 4, 1952 C. W. VAN RNST GARBAGE GRINDER 3 Sheets-Shed 3 Filed March l0. 1947 l IN V EN TOR.

177- Ta/r/vE/ Patented Mar. 4, 1952 GARBAGE GRINDER Cornelius W. Van Ranst, Dearborn, Mich., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to National Rubber Machinery Company, Akron, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733,469

7 Claims.

This invention relates to garbage disposal mechanisms and more particularly to an' improved power operated disposal mechanism for comminuting garbage and adapted for installation in the drain of an associated sink.

, It is an object of the invention to provide a garbage disposal unit of the above-mentioned type including improved means for supporting the major elements thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garbage disposal unit of the above-mentioned type having an improved construction which greatly facilitates the installation and servicing of the unit.

Another object is to provide an improved garbage disposal unit of the above-mentioned type adapted for association with a conventional sink and including improved supporting means adapted to relieve the sink of substantially all of ythe weight of the unit.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved control means for a disposal unit of the above-identified type.

A further object of the invention is to provide, inY such a disposal mechanism, an improved control unit adapted to be mounted in the outlet ofan associated sink and selectively operable to close and open said outlet and to actuate an associated switch controlling the operation of said mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from a consideration of the following specication and appended claims, a preferred but illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which corresponding Areference characters designatecorresponding parts, and wherein:

l Figure 1 is a broken view in vertical section of a garbage disposal unit constructed according to the invention, and illustrating the cover in the On position:

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view of thel structure illustrated in Fig. 1 taken substantially along the line 2 2 therof; l

, Fig. 3 is an enlarged and broken sectional view of certain details of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1; f

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. l taken substantially along the line 4 4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 taken from the line 5 5 thereof, showing the cover in the drain position;

, Fig. 6 lis a sectional view of the structure .1l-

l en

2 lustrated in Fig. 5 taken substantially along the line 6 6 thereof; illustrating the cover in the Off position:

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 taken substantially along the line 1 1 thereof;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5 taken substantially along the line 8 8 thereof;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the drain cover employed in the structure illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the drain cover illustrated in Fig. 9.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the garbage disposal unit generally comprises an adjustable support 20, a housing 22 mounted thereon in which is rotatably mounted a rotor 24, and an electric motor 2B which is also mounted on the support 20, by means of a bracket 28 and which is operatively connected to the rotor 24. The cooperation of the rotor 24 and the housing 22 comminutes the garbage in a manner hereinafter described and the comminuted garbage is carried from the housing 22Y through an outlet 38 which is adapted for connection to a suitable drain. The garbage is admitted to the upper end of the housing 22 through a chute 32 the upper end of which seats against the lower end of a control housing 34 adapted to be mounted in the drain outlet of an associated sink 36. The control housing 34 carries a drain cover 38 removable to permit garbage to be dropped through the chute 32 andk into the housing 22. The cover 38 is rotatable between a first position in which the unit is not running and the sink drain is opened, a second position in which the unit is not running and the sink is closed, and a third position in which the disposal unit is turned on and the sink is partially open.

Considering certain of the above elements in greater detail, and referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the support 20 cOmprises a base plate 40 which carries a pair of vertically disposed channels 42 the flanges of which extend to abutting relationship and are secured by a plurality of welds 44 to form a post of rectangular cross section. The channels 42 are slotted at the lower. ends thereof to permit the web and flange portions 45 to be turned outwardly at right angles thereto for engagement with the base plate 40. These outwardly turned portions 45 are spot welded as at 46, to the base plate 40 to permanently mount the post thereon. Apertures. 4,8 extending through the base plate 40 and the outwardly turned portions 45 are provided to receive bolts 50 for suitably anchoring the support 20. The channels 42 are provided with reinforcing sleeves 52 extending transversely of the web portions thereof and having reduced outer end portions adapted to be received in cooperating aligned apertures formed in the web portions of the channels to support the sleeves 52 within the post formed by the channels 42.

The channels 42 carry an upper supporting member 54 which is generally U-shaped, the web portion thereof being horizontally disposed and the arms thereof extending downwardly from the web portion and being deformed inwardly to engage and slidably fit the exterior of the channels 42. These arms 5B are channel-shaped and are provided with elongated slots 58 extending longitudinally of the channels 42. The arms 55 are clamped to the channels 42 by means of bolts 6U extending through the sleeves 52 and the slots 58. It will be appreciated that in this construction the sleeves 52 prevent collapsing of the channels 42 and thereby permit the nut 82 to bc tightened sufficiently to securely clamp the arms 56 against movement relative to the channels 42. It will also be appreciated that the elongated slots 58 permit adjustment of the supporting member 54 relative to the base plate 40.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the housing 22 comprises upper a-nd lower castings 55 and 68 respectively, the latter being secured, adjacent one side thereof, to the horizontally disposed web portion of the U-shaped upper supporting member 54, by the bolts 10. The lower casting G8, centrally thereof, is provided with integrally formed inwardly and outwardly extending bosses having an elongated aperture I2 extending therethrough in which is rotatably mounted a rotor shaft 14. At its upper end the rotor shaft l@ carries the rotor 24 keyed thereto and at its lower end the shaft extends outwardly of the lower casting G8 and carries a driven pulley wheel 'l5 keyed thereto. The shaft 'I4 is formed to provide an annular downwardly presenting shoulder which engages a thrust ring 'l5 which is supported in an annular member TI secured to the downwardly projecting boss on the lower casting 68 by suitable bolts (not shown). By this construction, the shaft '14, and the rotor 24 and pulley I8 carried thereon, are supported on the lower casting 68. Suitable sealing means.'|8 are provided for preventing escape of water or garbage through the aperture 'I2 or into the bearings in which the shaft 'i4 is mounted. A cutter plate 00 of generally shallow conical shape is secured to the upper surface of the rotor 24 by means of a plurality of bolts 82 and its upper surface is provided with a plurality of teeth 84, the arrangement of which is illustrated in Fig. 4.

The upper casting 66 of the housing 22 has a slightly tapering conical interior and is secured to the lower casting 88 by means of a plurality of bolts 86 mounted in cooperating flanges formed on the upper and lower castings. The upper casting 65 carries a lining or sleeve 88 which is shrunk into place and has a plurality of teeth 90 formed thereon and arranged in a succession of inclined curves as illustrated in Figure 1. These stationary teeth 90 cooperate with the rotating teeth 84 which are formed on the cutter plate 80 carried by the rotor 24 and by this cooperation, grind up the garbage or other refuse placed in the housing until the particles thereof are sufhciently small to pass between the periphery of the cutter plate 80 and the adjacent llnel 4 wall of the upper casting 66 which is of slightly larger diameter. This opening through which the refuse must pass is indicated at 92 in Figs. l and 2.

The chute 32 has an outwardly turned flange 84 at the lower end thereof which engages a cooperating flange 96 at the upper end of the casting 86 and is secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 90 which extend through a retaining ring |00, the flange 94 of the chute and are threaded into the flange 98. The chute 32 tapers inwardly from its lower end to its upper end and at its upper end has a slightly enlarged portion |02 adapted to engage a sealing ring |04 mounted on the lower end of the control housing 34.

Referring to Figs. 5 through 8 inclusive, the control housing 34 includes a central cylindrical portion ||0 and an upper and larger cylindrical vportion I I2 which is connected to the cylindrical portion ||0 by a conical seat ||4. At its upper end the control housing 34 terminates in an outwardly turned flange I6 which bears the legends On, Off, and Drain, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The control housing 34 is mounted in the sink 3G by dropping the housing through the drain opening thereof to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 in which the ange ||6 extends over the adjacent portion of the upper surface of the sink and engages a suitable sealing ring I8 mounted in the drain opening. The peripheral portion of the sink is clamped between the flange ||6 and the ring portion of a bracket |28, the function of which is hereinafter described, by means of a large nut |22 received on an externally threaded portion |24 of the housing.

The central cylindrical portion H0, at three points equally spaced around its circumference, is provided with vertically spaced pairs of bosses |25 defining cam engaging slots adapted to cooperate with the cover 38 as hereinafter described. These bosses |26 and the cam engaging slots defined thereby are disposed to correspond to the legend On carried on the flange I I6. The upper and larger cylindrical portion ||2 of the control housing, at three points equally spaced about its' circumference, has bosses |30 (see Fig. 8) integrally formed thereon. These bosses |30 are disposed to correspond to the legend Drain carried on the flange ||6 and are adapted to cooperate with hereinafter described means carried on the cover 38 to support the latter in an elevated or open position.

Referring to Fig. 1, the above-mentioned brack et |20 carries an electric switch 32 which may be' of a conventional construction, and which is actuated by a spring pressed plunger |34 eX- tending through the side of the control housing 34 and into one of the cam engaging slots dened by the bosses |26. The switch |32 is connected to the motor 2B by suitable wiring, not

shown.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the cover 38 includes upper and lower cylindrical portions |40 and |42 respectively, which are adapted to fit within the cylindrical portions ||2 and H0, respectively, of the control housing without interference with the bosses |30 and |26 projecting thereinto. The cover is of hollow construction and is provided with integrally formed radially extending webs |43. The cylindrical portions |40 and |42 of the cover are connected by a conical portion |44 adapted to fit the conical seat I |4 to close the control housing and prevent the flow of fluid from the sink.

The upper portion |40 of the cover 38 in provided with three lugs |46 equally spaced about its periphery and extending radially outwardly. A handle l 48 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the cover 38 and extends along a diameter thereof. On its upper surface the handle carries an arrow |50 or other suitable indicia, as illustrated in Fig. 5. `The handle |48 and the lugs |46 are so arranged that the arrow |50 points at one of the lugs |46, with the result that when the cover is raised and rotated to a position in which the lugs |46 are supported in the bosses |36, as shown in Fig. 8, the arrow |50 points to one 0f the legends Drain on the flange |6. It will be noted that in this position, the lugs f4.6 are held between upwardly extending projections |52 formed on the ends of the bosses |30, thereby preventing inadvertent movement of the cover 38 from the drain position. u

The lower cylindrical portion |42 of the cover 38 is provided with three cams |54 equally spaced about its periphery vand extending outwardly therefrom. The webs |43 are aligned with the cams |54, as best illustrated in Fig. 7, to provide amaximum of support for the latter. These cams |54 are adapted to engage within the slots defined by the Vspacedpairs of shoulders |26 on the housing l34 and each include an axially inclined portion |56 adapted to cooperate with the projections |26, during rotation of the cover from the Oif position to the On position, to raise the cover 38 from -the seat H4 and permitthe flow of fluid through the housing 34. The cams |54 have a gradually increasing radial thickness which at its maximum point is such that the overall diameter is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the cylindrical portion of the housing 34. It will be appreciated that this construction prevents misalignment of the cover 33 relative tothe housing 34 and consequent unseating from `the seat ||4. It will also be appreciated that as cover 34 is rotated to the On position one of the cams |54 will engage the'plunger |34 extending into one of the slots defined byone of the pairs of projections |26, and cause the plunger |34 to move radially outwardly of the housing 34 and actuate the associated switch |32. From the On position the cover 38 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, the plunger |34 moving axiallyV inwardly as the cam 54 is withdrawn from the slot and the cover is returned tothe seat |I4 by the cooperation of the cam portion |56 and the shoulders |26. The cover is moved to the Drain position by raising it from the seat 4 and continuing to rotate it in the same direction until the lugs |46 are aligned with the lbosses |30. The cover is then lowered to the above described position in which it is supported on the bosses |30 yby the lugs |46.

When the mechanism is to be operated, water, preferably cold water, should be turned on in the sink. 'Ihis water will then pass through the partially open drain opening and provide a medium for carrying away the comminuted garbage.

It is to be noted that the cover 38 is vin the form of a unitary stopper provided with projections or cams |54 adapted to engage the switch actuating means |34 which extends into the grinder charging opening and further provided with projections 46 and |44, (the latter being a seating surface) adapted to support the stopper in a plurality of different positions in the charging opening, viz. in a drain position and in a seal position. Cooperating with said stopper projections |54, |46, and |44 are complementary projectins |26, |30, and I4 respectively, on the wall surrounding such opening, the projections-.|46 and |30 serving to support said stopper in said opening in a drain position, the projectionsor seats |44 and I4 -serving to support said stopper in said opening in a seal position, and the projections |54 and |26 serving to shift said stopper to a drainand switch actuating position upon rotation of said stopper while in the charging opening from one of the two aforesaid inserted positions, here the seal position. Furthermore,l the projections |46 and |30 of said stopper and opening are arranged to hold the stopper against inadvertent rotation frpm the drain position, and the pairs of projections |26 which straddle the projections |54 in the drain and switch actuating position are arranged to lock the unitary stopper in the charging opening against axial withdrawal except by first rotating the stopper back to the seal position. f

Referring again to Fig. 1, the motor 26 is disposed with its output shaft |60 extendingV parallel to the rotor shaft 'I4 and is carried by the bracket 28, which is secured to the opposite sides of the supporting member 54 for adjustment horizontally thereof by bolts |6| extending through-cooperating horizontally elongated slots |63 formed in the -bracket 28. At its outer end, the shaft |60 carries a driving pulley |62 keyed thereto and disposed substantially in the plane of the driven pulleys 56. A V-belt |64 is trained overthe pulleys |62 and 'I6 and passes between the spaced arms of the upper supporting member 54 as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be appreciated that the tension of the belt |64 may be varied by horizontally adjusting the bracket 28. Beltguards |66 and |68 are carried by and releasably secured to opposite sides of the upper supporting member 54 by means of studs |10 which are welded or otherwise secured to the member 54 and which extend through cooperating anges on the belt guards and receive nuts |12.

While only one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modiilcaitons and changes may be made without departing from thev spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

`What is claimed is': A f

1. 'A control unit( for a garbage disposal mechanism for association with a sink, said control unit being adapted to be mounted in the outlet of the sink and comprisinga housing having a drain opening therein and including a portion defining a seat, a cover adapted to engage said seat to close said opening, cooperating means on said cover and housing engageable to support said cover in spaced relation to said seat to permit the oW of fluid through said opening, and other cooperating means on said cover and said housing adapted upon rotation of said cover to actuate an associated switch and to raise said cover from said seat and support it in spaced relation thereto.

2. A control unit for a garbage disposal mechanism for association with a sink, said control unit being adapted to be mounted in the outlet of the sink and comprising a housing having a. drain opening therein and including a portion defining a seat, a cover adapted to engage said seat to close said opening, cooperating means on said cover and said housing engageable to support said cover in spaced relation to said seat to permit the flow of fluid through said opening, and other cooperating means on said cover and said housing adapted in response to rotation of said cover to close an associated switch and to raise said cover from said seat and support it in spaced relation thereto, said cover being rotatable between a first position in which said cooperating means is effective to support said cover in spaced relation to said seat, a second position in which said cover engages said seat to close said opening, and a third position in which said other cooperating means is disposed in a position corresponding to the closed position of the associated switch and is effective to support said cover in spaced relation to said seat.

3. A control unit for a garbage disposal mechanism for association with1 a sink, said control unit being adapted to be mounted in the outlet of the sink and comprising a housing having a drain opening therein and including a portion defining a seat, a cover adapted to engage said seat to close said opening, and cooperating means on said cover and said housing adapted upon rotation of said cover relative to said housing to and from at least one position, to actuate an associated switch and to raise said cover from and lower it to said seat.

4. A control unit for a garbage disposal mechanism for association with a sink, said control unit being adapted to be mounted in the outlet of the sink and comprising a housing having a drain opening therein and including a portion dening a seat, a cover adapted to engage said seat to close said opening, a plurality of projections on said housing, and a plurality of cams on said cover adapted to engage said projections upon rotation of said cover relative to said housing to and from at least one position to actuate an associated switch and to raise said cover from and lower it to said seat.

5. A control unit for a garbage grinder of the type which is mounted below a sink and the garbage to be ground is fed to the grinder through the sink drain opening and energization of the grinding motor is dependent upon actuation of a switch adjacent such opening, comprising means for actuating said switch extending for at least a short distance into said opening, a unitary stopper for said opening provided with projections thereon adapted to energize said switch actuating means and support said stopper in a plurality of different positions in said opening, and complernentary projections on the wall surrounding said opening so arranged relatively to the projections on said stopper that the latter may be inserted in v said opening in sealing and draining positions respectively and rotatable from one of such positions to a draining and switch actuating position.

6. A control unit for a garbage grinder of the type which is mounted below a sink and the garbage to be ground is fed to the grinder through the sink drain opening and energization of the grinding motor is dependent upon actuation of a switch adjacent such opening, comprising means for actuating said switch extending for at least a short distance into said opening, a unitary stopper for said opening provided with projections thereon adapted to energize said switch actuating means and support said stopper in a sealing position and at least two draining positions in said opening, and complementary projections on the wall surrounding said opening so arranged relatively to the projections on said stopper that the latter may be initially selectively inserted in said opening in a sealing position and one of such draining positions and held against rotation in one of such inserted positions and rotatable from the other inserted position to the other of such draining positions whereat said switch is' actuated.

7. The control unit of claim 5 wherein said stopper and the wall of said opening are provided with radially overlapping portions locking said stopper from withdrawal from said opening when rotated to such draining and switch actuating position.

CORNELIUS W. VAN RANST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,539,112 Gloekler May 26, 1925 1,806,169 Kohler May 19, 1931 1,820,727 Bayles Aug. 25, 1931 2,102,560 Kimmich Dec. 14, 1937 2,125,004 Hamerstadt July 26, 1938 2,185,037 Powers Dec. 26, 1939 2,244,402 Powers June 3, 1941 2,322,058 Powers June 15, 1943 2,421,014 Goss et al May 27, 1947 2,428,420 Green Oct. 7, 1947 2,442,812 Jordan June 8, 1948 2,477,686 Coss Aug. 2, 1949 2,484,459 Osborn Oct. 11, 1949 2,509,242 Miller et al May 30, 1950 

